Method for designing cell layout of semiconductor integrated circuit

ABSTRACT

With a conventional method for designing cell layout, it is necessary to give relative positional information in advance to all cells to be arranged. Furthermore, the conventional method is troublesome because it is necessary to correct relative positional information of cells after confirming a result of temporary layout. Therefore, it takes time to obtain a layout result. To avoid these problems, cells of a specific type specified from outside, or cells satisfying specific conditions, are extracted and arranged first or limited to a layout position by specifying a layout position, then arranging the remaining cells using a general layout algorithm.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/624,788, filed Jan. 19, 2007, and which application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-012692, filed Jan. 20, 2006, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for designing cell layout and a cell layout design program of semiconductor integrated circuit. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for designing cell layout and a cell layout design program which obtain a layout result satisfying a circuit delay restriction, in a short time period with a little piece of command information.

In a conventional method for designing cell layout of semiconductor integrated circuit, it has been important that delay be considered in layout processing. Particularly, as a method for designing cell layout with a logic having a data flow (hereinafter referred to as data path), for example, a technique disclosed in Japan Patent Laid-open No. 2000-250964 is known. This conventional technique groups cells using the same arrangement information as a key by giving in advance relative positional information to each cell, and temporarily arranges cells of the same group in a specified order. Subsequently, the technique vertically or horizontally moves the above-mentioned temporarily arranged cells to array them, thus reducing the wiring length to satisfy the delay restriction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above-mentioned method for designing cell layout disclosed in Japan Patent Laid-open No. 2000-250964 is troublesome and takes time to obtain a required layout result because it is necessary to give in advance relative positional information to all cells to be arranged and repeatedly correct the relative positional information of cells several times after confirming a result of temporary layout.

In order to solve the above-mentioned subject, an object of the present invention is to obtain a layout result satisfying the delay restriction in a short time period with a little piece of command information, by arranging only specific type of cells first in consideration of a data flow and then the remaining cells in consideration of the relationship with the specific type of cells without giving in advance positional information to the priority cells.

As a method for designing cell layout in layout design of semiconductor integrated circuit, the present invention is characterized, particularly for a logic having a data flow, in that specific cells which can be specified from outside (hereinafter referred to as priority cells) are arranged first so as to fill a layout area width specified from outside and then the remaining cells are arranged by use of a general layout algorithm.

In accordance with the present invention, a layout result satisfying the circuit delay restriction can be obtained in a short time based on a little piece of command information given in advance, in a logic such as a data path.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a cell layout system of semiconductor integrated circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of processing procedure in the cell layout system of semiconductor integrated circuit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of logic cells to which the method for designing cell layout of semiconductor integrated circuit according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a condition in which a priority cell is arranged.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a condition in which priority cells are arranged.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a condition in which priority cells are arranged.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a condition in which priority cells are arranged.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of logic cells to which the method for designing cell layout of semiconductor integrated circuit according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a condition in which priority cells are arranged.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a condition in which priority cells are arranged.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of logic cells to which the method for designing cell layout of semiconductor integrated circuit concerning the present invention is applied.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a condition in which priority cells are arranged.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a condition in which priority cells are arranged.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an information management method of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a condition in which priority cells are arranged.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1

Detailed information and processing in the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a cell layout system of semiconductor integrated circuit concerning the present invention. Floor plan information 105 is data having a floor plan of a target logic circuit. A logic file 106 is a data file which includes a block of the target logic circuit, logical connection between cells, signal name, etc. Priority cell information 107 is information which specifies a set of key cells in a logic to be processed. A library 108 stores information about cell shape, pin position, cell delay time, etc. A control parameter 109 is information about a limit of the width of a layout area in which priority cells are to be arranged. Cell layout information 110 is information about layout position of arranged cells. The floor plan information 105, the logic file 106, the priority cell information 107, the library 108, the control parameter 109, and the cell layout information 110 are inputted into a data input processing unit 101. A priority cell layout unit 102 arranges priority cells by use of the priority cell information 107. A cell layout unit 103 arranges cells other than priority cells by use of a conventional general method for designing cell layout. A data output processing unit 104 outputs and updates the cell layout information 110 as a processing result.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a processing flow of the present invention.

First, Step 201 inputs data and then sets the priority cell information, general cell information, and a width limit of a layout area in which priority cells are to be arranged. Step 201 reads a data flow from the logic file 106 to determine the order of cell layout. Then, Step 202 initializes the arranged area width to zero. Subsequently, Step 203 extracts the width of a cell to be arranged. Then, Step 204 determines a target layout position of cells to be arranged, and the X direction of layout of cells to be arranged. Step 205 compares the total of the arranged area width and the width of cell to be arranged with the above-mentioned limit of layout area width. If the former is larger than the latter, Step 206 shifts the target layout position in the Y direction and inverts the X direction of layout; otherwise, Step 210 is performed. Step 207 determines whether a cell can be arranged in the determined target layout position. If the cell can be arranged, Step 208 is performed; otherwise, Step 209 is performed. Step 208 initializes the arranged area width to zero. Since cells cannot be arranged by shifting the Y direction of the layout target, Step 209 cuts off arranged cells while tracing back up to a priority cell at which a layout option exists. Then, from Step 203 on, processing is performed for a priority cell immediately following a cell at which a layout option exists.

As mentioned later, for example, it is possible to determine whether there is a layout option by storing a cell information table 1401 in FIG. 14 in a storage area to be accessed during processing, tracing back a subsequent target cell number, and referencing fields of numbers of connected cells. Step 210 determines whether a cell can be arranged at the target layout position determined in Step 204. If the cell cannot be arranged, Step 206 is performed. Furthermore, if the cell can be arranged, it is arranged at the target layout position in Step 211. Subsequently, Step 212 adds the width of cell to be arranged to the width of the arranged area. Then, Step 213 shifts the target layout position in the X direction by the width of cell to be arranged. The processing from Step 203 to Step 213 is repeated as long as there is any priority cell that has not been arranged. This judgment is made in Step 214. After arranging priority cells, Step 215 arranges other cells by use of a general layout algorithm. The general layout algorithm mentioned here is a mini-cut method or clustering method disclosed on pages 154 to 158 in document “Equipment Design and Implementation” published by Maruzen on Mar. 30, 1996. After performing these processes, Step 216 performs data output.

The present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing logic cells to which the method for designing cell layout of semiconductor integrated circuit according to the present invention is applied. Logic cells to be used as examples include an arranged logic cell 301 and priority cells 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, and 310, the priority cells being to be arranged. In order to perform layout processing in consideration of the data flow read in Step 201, it is necessary to arrange priority cells to be arranged so that a priority cell 304 comes next to a priority cell 303, 305 next to 304, 306 next to 305, 307 next to 306, 308 next to 307, 309 next to 308, and 310 next to 309. Furthermore, a cell 302 is the limit of layout area width specified by the control parameter.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the determination of a target layout position, layout processing, and the movement of the target layout position when arranging cells to be arranged of the present invention, using the cell 303 as an example, according to the processing flow in FIG. 2. Step 202 sets a wired area width to zero. Then, Step 203 extracts the cell width of the cell 303. Then, Step 204 references the information inputted from the priority cell information 107 and the cell layout information 110. If a first layout target is set to the right-hand side of the arranged logic cell 301, the layout target is set to a position 401 and a target X direction of layout is set to the right. Then, Step 205 compares the total of the cell width of the cell 303 and arranged area width with the limit of layout area width. Here, since the total of the cell width and arranged area width is smaller than the limit of layout area width 302, the process proceeds to Step 210. Step 210 arranges the priority cell to be arranged 303 at a position 402 next to the target layout position 401. Subsequently, Step 212 adds the width of the cell 303 arranged at the target layout position to the wired area width. Then, Step 213 shifts the X coordinate of the target layout position to create a new target layout position 403.

Step 213 performs the same processing for the priority cells 304 and 305 to arrange the priority cell 304 at a layout position 501 and the priority cell 305 at a layout position 502, as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation when the limit of layout area width is exceeded when arranging the cells to be arranged based on the processing flow shown in FIG. 2, using the cell 306 as an example, according to the present invention. The priority cells 303, 304, and 305 shown in FIG. 3 have been arranged. Then, in order to arrange the priority cell 306, the target layout position is determined and the total value of the cell width of the priority cell 306 to be arranged and arranged area width is compared with the limit of layout area width in Step 205. As a result, the total value of the arranged area width and the width of cell to be arranged exceeds the limit of layout area width. Therefore, Step 206 shifts the Y direction of the target layout position and inverts the X direction of layout. Then, Step 207 determines whether the cell 306 can be arranged at the shifted target layout position. Here, since the cell 306 can be arranged, the process proceeds to Step 208. Then, Step 208 sets the arranged area width to zero. Subsequently, Step 211 arranges the cell 306 at the target layout position.

FIG. 7 shows a condition in which all priority cells to be arranged have been arranged by performing the processing shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. The priority cell to be arranged 307 shown in FIG. 3 is arranged at a position 701 which allows the cell to be arranged next to the priority cell to be arranged 306. Since the priority cell to be arranged 308 in FIG. 3 exceeds the limit of layout area width, the target layout position is shifted in the Y direction and then the cell is arranged at a position 702. Cells 309 and 310 can be arranged at positions 703 and 704, respectively, which means that all priority cells to be arranged have been arranged.

Thus, after all priority cells have been arranged, cells other than the priority cells are arranged. Here, a popular layout method may be used.

Embodiment 2

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. 8 to FIG. 10.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing logic cells to which the method for designing cell layout of semiconductor integrated circuit according to the present invention is applied. Logic cells to be used as examples include arranged logic cells 801 and 802 and priority cells to be arranged 804, 805, 806, 807, 808, 809, 810, and 811. In order to perform layout processing in consideration of a data flow, it is necessary to arrange priority cells to be arranged so that 805 comes next to 804, 806 next to 805, 807 next to 806, 808 next to 807, 809 next to 808, 810 next to 809, and 811 next to 810. Furthermore, a distance 803 is the limit of layout area width specified by the control parameter.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a form of layout performed while avoiding an obstacle using the method for designing cell layout of semiconductor integrated circuit, according to the present invention, based on the processing flow shown in FIG. 2. The priority cell 804 has already been arranged, and the priority cell 805 is to be arranged to the right of the priority cell 804, i.e., at a position 901. Step 205 compares the total of the cell width of the cell 805 and the arranged area width with the limit of layout area width. Here, since the limit of layout area width 803 is smaller than the total, the process proceeds to Step 210. Then, Step 210 determines whether the priority cell 805 can be arranged at the target layout position. Here, since the arranged cell 802 is an obstacle that disturbs the layout, the process proceeds to Step 206. Step 206 shifts the Y direction of the layout target and inverts the X direction of layout. Then, Step 207 determines whether the cell 805 can be arranged at a shifted target layout position 902. Here, since the cell 805 can be arranged, the process proceeds to Step 208. Then, Step 208 then sets the arranged area width to zero. Subsequently, Step 211 arranges the cell 805 at the target layout position 902.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing all priority cells to be arranged which have been arranged using the processing flow shown in FIG. 2 according to the present invention. The priority cell to be arranged 807, as shown in FIG. 8, is to be arranged to the left of an arranged priority cell 1001. However, since the limit of layout area width is exceeded, the target layout position is shifted in the Y direction and the cell 807 is arranged at a position 1002. The priority cell 808 can be arranged at a position 1003, and the priority cell 809 cannot be arranged to the right of a position 1003 because the limit of layout area width is exceeded. Therefore, the target layout position is shifted in the Y direction and the cell 809 is arranged at a position 1004. Then, priority cells 1005 and 1006 can be arranged similarly. This means that all priority cells to be arranged have been arranged.

Embodiment 3

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 11 to FIG. 13.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing logic cells to which the method for designing cell layout of semiconductor integrated circuit according to the present invention is applied. Logic cells to be used as examples include an arranged logic cell 1101, an obstacle 1102, and priority cells to be arranged 1104, 1105, 1106, 1107, 1108, 1109, 1110, and 1111. In order to perform layout processing in consideration of a data flow, it is necessary to arrange the priority cells to be arranged so that 1105 comes next to 1104, 1106 next to 1105, 1107 next to 1106, 1108 next to 1107, 1109 next to 1108, 1110 next to 1109, and 1111 next to 1110. Furthermore, a distance 1103 is a limit of layout area width specified by the control parameter.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing that suitable layout is possible if priority cells cannot be arranged based on the processing flow shown in FIG. 2 by use of the method for designing cell layout of semiconductor integrated circuit according to the present invention because there is an obstacle. The priority cells 1104, 1105, 1106, and 1107 have already been arranged at positions 1201, 1202, 1203, and 1204, respectively. Step 205 compares the total of the cell width of the cell 1108 and arranged area width with the limit of layout area width. Here, since the limit of layout area width 1103 is smaller than the total, the process proceeds to Step 210. Then, Step 210 determines whether the priority cell 1108 can be arranged at the target layout position. Here, since the cell can be arranged only at a position 1205 because of the obstacle 1102, the process proceeds to Step 206. After Step 206 has been executed, the position 1205 becomes a target layout position. Then, Step 207 determines whether the cell can be arranged at the target layout position 1205. Here, since the cell cannot be arranged because of the obstacle 1102, the process proceeds to Step 209. Step 209 cuts off the arranged priority cells up to the position 1202 at which a layout option exists, i.e., the priority cells 1107, 1106, and 1105 arranged at positions 1204, 1203, and 1202, respectively.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a result of layout processing performed after the priority cells shown in FIG. 12 have been cut off. Specifically, the process proceeds to Step 203 which arranges the cut off priority cell 1105 at a remaining position 1301 at which a layout option exists. Subsequently, the priority cell 1106 is arranged at a position 1302, and the priority cell 1107 at a position 1303. Then, by arranging the priority cells 1108, 1109, 1110, and 1111 at positions 1304, 1305, 1306, and 1307, respectively, in the same manner as Embodiment 1, it is possible to perform layout processing in consideration of a data flow even if there is an obstacle.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a method for managing information created with the method for designing cell layout of semiconductor integrated circuit according to the present invention. The data input processing unit 101 shown in FIG. 1 sets the cell name, cell width, cell height, and coordinate X and coordinate Y (in the case where the cell has been arranged) in the cell information table 1401 from the logic file 106, the library 108, and the cell layout information 110. Then, the data input processing unit 101 creates a priority cell information table 1402 and information of the subsequent target cell in the cell information table 1401 based on the priority cell information 107 shown in FIG. 1. The priority cell information table 1402 stores numbers of cells targeted for layout, starting numbers of cells to be arranged which are used to sequentially store cells to be arranged, and limit of layout area width. For cells arranged by the priority cell layout unit 102 and the cell layout unit 103, information about whether a cell has been arranged or not, layout coordinate information, and numbers of connected cells are stored in the cell information table 1401. Sequential layout of a plurality of priority cells to be arranged in one cell targeted for layout can be performed by sequentially tracing the target cell numbers in the cell information table 1401. Furthermore, the number of connected cell in the cell information table 1401 is information indicating how priority cells, or a priority cell and a cell to be arranged, are adjacently arranged and whether or not the cells have been searched. In this example, “cell1” (No. 1) is a layout target and the target X direction of layout is the right. A symbol “−” in the field of numbers of connected cells indicates a direction in which a cell has not yet been searched. A symbol “x” in the same field indicates one of four cases: an arranged cell exists; the cell at the relevant position was cut off in Step 209; the area is defined in the floor plan information 105 as an area in which a cell cannot be arranged; and the area is incompatible with the limit of layout area width stored in the storage area referenced in Step 205.

FIG. 15 shows a part of data stored in the cell information table 1401 and the priority cell information table 1402 shown in FIG. 14. A cell 1501 targeted for layout, and priority cells 1502 to 1505 have been arranged, which respectively represent “Cell1” to “Cell5” in the cell information table 1401. Furthermore, there is a layout-prohibited area 1506. The cell 1501 targeted for layout is stored as No. 1 in the cell information table 1401 and No. 1 in the priority cell information table 1402. The cell information table 1401 can be traced back from No. 1 in the priority cell information table 1402. A cell to be arranged for the cell 1501 targeted for layout stores the starting number of cell to be arranged in the cell information table 1402 for the starting cell in the layout order, allowing the priority cell 1502 to be traced back. Furthermore, a cell to be arranged for a cell targeted for layout can be extracted by tracing back the subsequent target cell number in the cell information table 1401 from the starting number of cell to be arranged in the priority cell information table 1402. Thus, priority cells 1502 to 1505 can be extracted. When layout processing of a priority cell is performed, information is added to the field of numbers of connected cells, which stores a direction in which a cell has not yet been searched, a layout-prohibited direction, and adjacent cell numbers. A layout-prohibited direction is given to the right of the priority cells 1502 and 1503 and to the left of the priority cells 1504 and 1505. Furthermore, since the cell 1501 connects to the cell 1502, 1502 to 1503, 1503 to 1504, and 1504 to 1505, a cell number is given to each individual connecting direction of these cells. 

1. A method for designing a cell layout of a semiconductor integrated circuit, comprising the steps of: determining whether a layout of priority cells is completed; performing a layout of general cells when the layout of the priority cells is judged to be completed in the step of determining whether the layout of the priority cells is completed; and outputting a layout result of each of the priority cells and the general cells; wherein a layout of the priority cell comprises the steps of: inputting cell layout information and priority cell information from information files storing the cell layout information and the priority cell information; extracting a layout cell width, a limit of a layout area width, and an arranged area width based on the cell layout information and the priority cell information; setting the arranged area width to zero; extracting the width of a cell to be arranged; calculating a target layout position and X direction of a layout of the cell to be arranged based on the cell layout information and the priority cell information; and comparing the total of the width of the cell to be arranged and the arranged area width with the limit of the layout area width to determine whether the total of the widths is larger than the limit of the layout area width, wherein, when the result of the comparison step is that the total of the widths is larger than the limit of the layout area width, the method comprises the steps of: shifting the target layout position in the Y direction and inverts the direction of the layout of the priority cell in the X direction; determining whether the priority cell can be arranged at the target layout position; if the cell can be arranged, setting the arranged area width to zero; and if the cell cannot be arranged, tracing back up to a priority cell having a layout option while cutting off priority cells already arranged, wherein, when the result of the comparison step is that the total of the widths is not larger than the limit of the layout area width, the method comprises the steps of: determining whether the priority cell can be arranged at the target layout position; if the cell can be arranged, adding the width of the cell to be arranged to the arranged area width and shifting the target layout position in the X direction; and if the cell cannot be arranged, performing the steps for the case where the result of the comparison step is that the total of the widths is larger than the limit of layout area width. 